World War I, the "war to end all war," mobilized over 4 1/2 million
     American boys and cost an excess of $400 billion. American war dead
     totaled 115,516.
       Saturday, May 18, 1918, the first funeral of a Barber County soldier
     was held in Medicine Lodge, and the statistics (still in the making)
     became real.
       Herbert Ernest, oldest son of John and Emma Tedrow Magnison, was born
     February 24, 1890, Sherlock, Finney Count. He enlisted July 14, 1917,
     and was accidentally shot May 13, 1918, New Orleans.
       United States officially entered WWI, April 6, 1917. A July 11 issue
     of the Barber County Index listed Herbert as #100 on the Registration
     Board's list of eligible men. His brother,  Homer, was #101; he was
     head of a family and automatically exempt.
       Herbert was one of many Barber County boys who joined ahead of the
     draft. The newspaper faithfully published news of the boys, carried a
     special "Soldier's Letters" column, and covered the death and burial of
     Private Herbert E. Magnison with the flair and thoroughness common to
     those times.
       After enlisting, Herbert spent 2 weeks at Fort Logan, Colorado; until
     November 3 at Fort Doublas, until February 8 at Little Rock; arriving
     in New Orleans, February 9. With the 43rd U.S. Infantry, in the Coast
     Artillery, Herbert met his death while cleaning his gun on guard duty.
       News of Herbert's death was relayed to Mrs. Magnison by telegraph
     operator, via telephone. A widow, Mrs. Magsison lived thirteen miles
     southwest of Medicine Lodge. Her husband had died December 27, 1907.
       The newspaper commended Private Magnison for being attentive to duty,
     exceptionally well-liked by his comrades, frequent in writing to his
     mother, and for sending her all but $5 of each month's earnings.
       Business houses closed during the services, requested by Mayor Griffin,
     and the Medicine Lodge Company of the Kansas State Guard provided a
     military escort to Highland cemetery.
       This was the first public appearance of the local Company of State
     Guards, mustered into service the Wednesday preceding, with 85 members.
     It absorbed what was known as the Home Guards. Captain J.H. Trice was in
     charge.
       His death at age 28, the passing of time and deaths of his immediate
     family and close friends leave few personal recollections to record.
       Herbert evidently planned a farming career, continuing to live with
     his mother and taking over the work after his father's death.
       His oldest nephew, five and half at the time, recalls the day Herbert
     left for the war.
       After saying his goodbyes at home, he walked across the hills to his
     brother's place (later Eva and Lloyd Weidner's farm), to return a borrowed
     mule. The children were playing under an apricot tree in the yard, and
     Herbert came over to visit them. Before leaving, he took all the change
     from his pockets and gave it to them. Declining his brother's offer of a
     ride, Herbert walked on to town.
       With passing years and to  younger generations, he became "Uncle Herbie,
     the soldier on the bedrrom wall." But Herbie was a son, a brother, a real
     uncle, a friend, and one of the Barber County boys who died in World War
     One.
                 
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 311 
     Submitted by: Janet Magnison Roland